Liturgies for Evening Prayer – 2016
These brief liturgies for evening prayer are suitable for committee meetings or other evening church gatherings. The content is not original but has been constructed from various elements found on the internet. There's a bit of a Celtic cast to the closing responses. The scripture references are drawn from one of the Sunday selections for the month from the Revised Common Lectionary in 2016 (Year C). Feel free to change the scripture reference in the Word version to one that is more appropriate as necessary for your needs.
JanuaryFebruary
March
April
May
June / July
August
September
October
November
December
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Evening Prayer – January
Opening Words
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness,
on them has the light shined.
We have beheld Christ’s glory,
glory as of the only Son of the Father.
For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.
In him was life,and the life was the light of all people.
Silence: Be still, aware of God's presence in and around us.
Hymn – Our Day of Praise is Done
(Tune: Dennis or Southwell, SM)
1. Our day of praise is done;
the evening shadows fall;
but pass not from us with the sun,
true Light that lightens all.
2. It's yours each soul to calm,
each wayward thought reclaim,
and make our life a daily psalm
of glory to your name.
Thanksgiving for the Light
May God be with you – And also with you.
Let us give thanks to God
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Creator of the Universe
From old you have led your people by night and day.
May the light of your Christ make our darkness bright,
For your Word and presence light our pathways,
And you are the light and life of all creation.
Amen
Sharing Prayers and Concerns
To you, O Lord, we lift our souls.
In you, O God, we trust.
Words of Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11)
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(Readers in succession)
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits,
To another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
All: These are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
Reflection
Closing Words
In the power of your presence – Lord may we abide.
In the love of the Lord – Lord may we abide.
In the strength of the savior – Lord may we abide.
In the compassion of Christ – Lord may we abide.
In the joy of Jesus – Lord may we abide.
In the dwelling of our God – Lord may we abide.
That we may dwell in you and you in us
Lord may we abide.
Bless to us, O God
The moon that is above us,
The earth that is beneath us
The friends who are around us,
Your image deep within us
Your rest which is before us. Amen
Evening Prayer – February
Opening Words
The city of God has no need of sun or moon,
for the glory of God is its light,
and its lamp is the Lamb.
By its light shall the nations walk,
and the rulers of earth shall bring their treasures into it.
Silence: Be still, aware of God's presence in and around us.
The Day You Gave Us Lord is Ended
(Tune: St. Clement)
1. The day You gave us, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Your behest;
To You our morning hymns ascended,
Your praise shall sanctify our rest.
2. As over each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the song of praise away.
3. So be it, Lord; Your throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away:
Your kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Your creatures own Your sway.
Thanksgiving for the Light
May God be with you,
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to God
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
O Lord God Almighty, as You have taught us to call the evening,
the morning, and the noonday one day,
And have made the sun to know its going down,
Through Your Son Jesus dispel the darkness of our hearts,
That by Your brightness we may know
You to be the true God and eternal Light,
Living and reigning forever and ever.
Amen.
Sharing Prayers and Concerns
To you, O Lord, we lift our souls.
In you, O God, we trust.
Words of Scripture (2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2)
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Reflection
Closing Words
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you, O Christ.
Let us now speak this blessing upon one another
Deep peace of the running wave to you;
Deep peace of the flowing air to you;
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you;
Deep peace of the shining stars to you;
Deep, deep peace of Christ to you;
Deep, deep peace of Christ to you.
Evening Prayer – March
Opening Words
Behold, now is the acceptable time;
now is the day of salvation.
Turn us again, O God of our salvation,
that the light of your face may shine on us.
May your justice shine like the sun;
and may the poor be lifted up.
Silence: Be still, aware of God's presence in and around us.
Hymn – Jesus, Redeemer of the World
(Tune: O Waly Waly, LM)
1. Jesus, Redeemer of the world,
Word of the Father throned on high,
light from the light invisible,
and watchful guardian over all:
2. The whole creation's architect,
you set the bounds of night and day;
give to our wearied bodies rest
in night's enfolding quietness.
Thanksgiving for the Light
May God be with you,
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to God
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
We give you thanks and praise, O God of endless light,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In him your light shines in our hearts
and reveals the light that never fades.
As daylight comes to an end
and darkness begins to fall,
We thank you for the light of day,
created for our work and pleasure,
and bless you for the gift of this evening light.
Sharing Prayers and Concerns
To you, O Lord, we lift our souls.
In you, O God, we trust.
Words of Scripture (Isaiah 55:1-9)
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Reflection
Closing Words
On our hearts and on our homes
The blessing of God.
In our coming and in our going
The peace of God.
In our lives and in our seeking
The love of God.
At our end and new beginnings
The arms of God to welcome us
and bring us home.
Evening Prayer – April
Opening Words
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
We are illumined by the brightness of his rising.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Death has no more dominion over us.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Silence: Be still, aware of God's presence in and around us.
Evening Hymn – O Radiant Light
(Tune: Puer Nobis Nascitur, LM)
1. O radiant Light, O Sun divine,
of God the Father’s deathless face,
O image of the Light sublime,
that fills the heavenly dwelling place.
2. O Son of God, the source of life,
praise is your due by night and day.
Our happy lips must raise the strain
of your esteemed and splendid name.
3. Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,
as shine the lights of eventide,
we praise the Father with the Son,
the Spirit blest and with them one.
Thanksgiving for the Light
May God be with you, – And also with you.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Redeemer God. You destroyed the bonds of death and from the darkness of the tomb drew forth the light of the world.
You led us through the waters of death, and made us children of light singing Alleluias and dancing to the music of new life.
Pour out your Spirit upon us that dreams and visions bring us ever closer to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.
Through him and in the Holy Spirit glory be to you, almighty God, this night and forever and ever.
Sharing Prayers and Concerns
To you, O Lord, we lift our souls.
In you, O God, we trust.
Words of Scripture (John 10:22-30)
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
Reflection -
Closing Words
This night and every night
grant to us light
This night and every night
grant to us peace
This night and every night
grant to us rest
This night and every night
grant to us grace
This night and every night
grant to us joy
Evening Prayer – May
Opening Words
God will come, and there shall be continuous day,
for at evening time there shall be light.
God is light;
in God there is no darkness at all.
Silence: Be still, aware of God's presence in and around us.
Opening Hymn – O Christ Who is the Light & Day
(Tune: Winchester New, LM)
1. O Christ, who is the light and day,
You drive the night and gloom away;
O Light of Light, whose Word does show
The light of heaven to us below.
2. All-holy Lord, in humble prayer
We ask tonight Your watchful care.
O grant us calm repose in Thee,
A quiet night, from perils free.